Building Strong Churches (Eph 4:1-6:23)
The Church: The Power To Grow (4:1-)
THE PLEA FOR A UNIFIED CHURCH: DEDICATION - Conduct of the Church
Ephesians 4:1-6
Reading: Php 2:5-11
Songs: Hand In Hand With Jesus
Themes:
INTRODUCTION
A. Growing healthy plants involves the proper amount of light, soil, and nutrients. Take any one of those away and the plant will begin struggling to survive.
B. There is a lot of talk regarding growth in the church. There are lot of different ways in which many congregations are going about seeking growth. If we would like to seek the kind of growth which brings glory to God, souls to salvation and edification to the saints, we need only to go to the pages of the New Testament and reexamine the early church which did experience incredible growth. Many factors influenced the incredible growth the early church of Christ experienced. If we were to take away any one of them, though some kind of growth might be noticed, it would be good growth. The church as the Lord’s would then begin to struggle. One of the major reasons for the growth of the first century and a few times since, was due unity in doctrine, purpose and fellowship.
C. Let’s examine briefly what promotes unity in the Lord’s church and keeps it.
Discussion:
I. ATTITUDE WHICH PROMOTES UNITY (4:1-2).
Christ Like Manner
A. I ... beseech you that ye walk worthy ... (4:1).
KJV
1 ¶ I <1473> therefore <3767>, the prisoner <1198> of <1722> the Lord <2962>, beseech <3870> (5719) you <5209> that ye walk <4043> (5658) worthy <516> of the vocation <2821> wherewith <3739> ye are called <2564> (5681),
Textus Receptus
1 parakalw <3870> (5719) oun <3767> umav <5209> egw <1473> o <3588> desmiov <1198> en <1722> kuriw <2962> axiwv <516> peripathsai <4043> (5658) thv <3588> klhsewv <2821> hv <3739> eklhyhte <2564> (5681)
1. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote the Ephesians but rather than a prisoner of Rome, Paul saw himself a "prisoner of the Lord (v 1; 3:1; 1Co1:1; 9:1-2; 15:9; 2Co 12:12; Eph 1:1; 1Ti 2:7) .
a. As a prisoner of the Lord, Paul whole world revolved around the Lord’s will (Gal 2:20).
b. Paul commanded all Christians to do similarly.
c. beseech Strong’s - 3870. parakalew PARAKALEO par-ak-al-eh’-o; from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):— beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
3870 parakalew parakaleo par-ak-al-eh’-o from 3844 and 2564; TDNT-5:773,778; v AV-beseech 43, comfort 23, exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3, misc 4, vr besought 1; 109 1) to call to one’s side, call for, summon 2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc. 2a) to admonish, exhort 2b) to beg, entreat, beseech 2b1) to strive to appease by entreaty 2c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort 2c1) to receive consolation, be comforted 2d) to encourage, strengthen 2e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging 2f) to instruct, teach
5719 Tense-Present See 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - Indicative See 5791
Count-3014
(1) Paul’s exhortation was for Christians do something particular.
(2) It was a call to walk in a certain manner.
2. walk, Strong’s - 4043. peripatew PERIPATEO per-ee-pat-eh’-o; from 4012 and 3961; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):— go, be occupied with, walk (about).
4043 peripatew peripateo per-ee-pat-eh’-o from 4012 and 3961; TDNT-5:940,804; v AV-walk 93, go 1, walk about 1, be occupied 1; 96 1) to walk 1a) to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities 1b) Hebrew for, to live 1b1) to regulate one’s life 1b2) to conduct one’s self 1b3) to pass one’s life
5658 Tense-Aorist See 5777
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - Infinitive See 5795
Count-516
a. The word walk occurs a total seven times in six passages (Eph 2:10; 4:1,17; 5:2, 8, 15).
b. This walk indicates a continual, consistent, Christian manner of living (1Co 3:3; 2Co 5:7; 1Th 2:12; 1Jo 1:6-10; 3Jo 1:4).
3. A proper walk demands a life with a proper direction.
4. To help us get in proper focus with what we are supposed to do, Paul used three important words in connection with walking (v 1).
a. worthy, Strong’s - 516. axiwv AXIOS ax-ee’-oce; adverb from 514; appropriately:—as becometh, after a godly sort, worthily(-thy).
516 axiwv AXIOS ax-ee’-oce from 514; ; adv AV-worthy 3, as becometh 2, after a godly sort + 2316 1; 6 1) suitably, worthily, in a manner worthy of
(1) Worthiness is expected to be the primary pursuit of our lives, in living for Christ (Mat 6:33; Rom 6:4; 12:1-2; Php 1:21).
b. vocation, Strong’s - 2821. klhsiv KLESIS klay’-sis; from a shorter form of 2564; an invitation (figuratively):— calling.
2821 klhsiv klesis klay’-sis from a shorter form of 2564; TDNT-3:491,394; n f AV-calling 10, vocation 1; 11 1) a calling, calling to 2) a call, invitation 2a) to a feast 2b) of the divine invitation to embrace salvation of God
c. called, 2564. kalew KALEO kal-eh’-o; akin to the base of 2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, dir. or otherwise):—bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was [called]).
2564 kalew KALEO kal-eh’-o akin to the base of 2753; TDNT-3:487,394; v AV-call 125, bid 16, be so named 1, named + 3686 1, misc 3; 146 1) to call 1a) to call aloud, utter in a loud voice 1b) to invite 2) to call i.e. to name, by name 2a) to give a name to 2a1) to receive the name of, receive as a name 2a2) to give some name to one, call his name 2b) to be called i.e. to bear a name or title (among men) 2c) to salute one by name
For Synonyms see entry 5823
5681 Tense-Aorist See 5777
Voice-Passive See 5786
Mood - Indicative See 5791
5. In these verses, Paul was exhorting Christians, to commit themselves or dedicate themselves to living in harmony with the invitation God has given us (Ti 2:11-13).
a. In other words, Paul was calling Christians to act like Christians.
b. If each of was to take a serious, personal, examination of our own lives, would our lives resemble Christ.
c. It was Paul's desire to "present every man complete in Christ" (Col 1:28; cp. Act 20:27, 31).
d. I am sure many of us, at some point in growing up, have said to our parents, "I'm an adult, please treat me like one," only to hear, "Than why don't you act like one."
e. Similarly, Paul knew that if we want to retain the name Christian, if the church is to remain his, then we must practice the life set out in our faith (Php 1:27; 1Ti 6:11-12).
6. To walk worthy our lives must be in agreement with God (Amo 3:3).
a. agreed, Strong’s - 03259. dey YAÆAD yaw-ad’; a primitive root; to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial), to direct (in a certain quarter or position), to engage (for marriage):—agree, (make an) appoint(-ment, a time), assemble (selves), betroth, gather (selves, together), meet (together), set (a time).
wdey Y@ædow. See 03260.
03259 dey YA‘AD yaw-ad’ a primitive root; TWOT-878; v AV-meet 7, together 5, assemble 4, appointed 3, set 3, time 2, betrothed 2, agreed 1, appointment 1, gather 1; 29 1) to fix, appoint, assemble, meet, set, betroth 1a) (Qal) to appoint, assign, designate 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to meet 1b2) to meet by appointment 1b3) to gather, assemble by appointment 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet 1d) (Hophal) to be set, be placed before, be fixed
08738 Stem - NiphalSee 08833
Mood - PerfectSee 08816
Count-1429
(1) If we were to make an appointment with someone, we would have to meet in the appointed place and at the appointed time or else we would miss the person with whom we had made the agreement.
(2) The time to walk with God is today (2Co 6:1-2).
(a) Today is the time as long as it is still called today.
(b) We must continue to encourage one another as long as it is today (cp. Heb. 3:12-13).
(3) The place to walk with God is in Christ (Eph 4:4; Col 1:18-19; 2:6).
(a) The place is in Christ, his spiritual body, his church and in our lives.
(b) This certainly cancels the idea that we can walk with God without his church.
(c) If we’re going to “walk worthy” of such an honorable calling, we need then to put all our efforts into seeking it and remaining faithful to it, rather then just seeking it when it is convenient for us to step away from seeking what the world can offer us (Mat 6:33).
(d) The Lord expects us to conduct ourselves, in public or private, as Christians, as it becoming of the gospel.
(e) By so doing we can “with well doing” “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1Pe 2:15).
b. See sermon THE CHRISTIAN WALK IS TO WALK WITH GOD (Eph 4-5).
Christ Like Mind
B. With all ... (4:2).
2 ¶ With <3326> all <3956> lowliness <5012> and <2532> meekness <4236>, with <3326> longsuffering <3115>, forbearing <430> (5740) one another <240> in <1722> love <26>;
2 meta <3326> {PREP} pashv <3956> {A-GSF} tapeinofrosunhv <5012> {N-GSF} kai <2532> {CONJ} praothtov <4236> {N-GSF} meta <3326> {PREP} makroyumiav <3115> {N-GSF} anecomenoi <430> (5740) {V-PNP-NPM} allhlwn <240> {C-GPM} en <1722> {PREP} agaph <26> {N-DSF}
1. Paul described some of the characteristics of a worthy walk (v 2).
a. lowliness, Strong’s - 5012. tapeinofrosunh TAPEINOPHROSUNE tap-i-nof-ros-oo’-nay; from a compound of 5011 and the base of 5424; humiliation of mind, i.e. modesty:— humbleness of mind, humility (of mind, loneliness (of mind).
5012 tapeinofrosunh tapeinophrosune tap-i-nof-ros-oo’-nay from a compound of 5011 and the base of 5424; TDNT-8:1,1152; n f AV-humility 3, humbleness of mind 1, humility of mind 1, lowliness 1, lowliness of mind 1; 7 1) the having a humble opinion of one’s self 2) a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness 3) modesty, humility, lowliness of mind
For Synonyms see entry 5898
b. meekness, Strong’s - 4236. praothv PRAOTES prah-ot’-ace; from 4235; gentleness, by implication, humility:— meekness.
4236 praothv praotes prah-ot’-ace see prauthv from 4235; ; n f AV-meekness 9; 9 1) gentleness, mildness, meekness
For Synonyms see entry 5898 & 5899
c. longsuffering, Strong’s - 3115. makroyumia makrothumia mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah; from the same as 3116; longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:— longsuffering, patience.
3115 makroyumia MAKROTHUMIA mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah from the same as 3116; TDNT-4:374,550; n f AV-longsuffering 12, patience 2; 14 1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance 2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs
For Synonyms see entry 5861
(1) Longsuffering requires both patience and endurance (Gal. 5:22; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 2:10).
(2) There are things some may want to do, of which we may not agree, but as long as those things are bound as a test of fellowship, we should have tolerance with one another in them.
d. forbearing, Strong’s - 430. anecomai anechomai an-ekh’-om-ahee; middle voice from 303 and 2192; to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively) put up with:— bear with, endure, forbear, suffer.
430 anecomai anechomai an-ekh’-om-ahee middle voice from 303 and 2192; TDNT-1:359, *; v AV-suffer 7, bear with 4, forbear 2, endure 2; 15 1) to hold up 2) to hold one’s self erect and firm 3) to sustain, to bear, to endure
5740 Tense-Present See 5774
Voice-Middle or Passive Deponent See 5790
Mood - Participle See 5796
Count-544
e. love,
f. Walking worthy in relationship to one another requires that we not wear our feelings on our sleeve so to speak and concentrate on proper attitudes toward one another in the church.
g. When Jesus and his church have priority in our commitments, than everything else will fit into place.
Transition: All of this is a call to attitudes which promote unity - a Christ like manner and a Christ like mind. Having it will bring out an environment for growth in the church. But growth has limits.
Unity
II. LIMITS WHICH KEEP UNITY (4:3-6).
Limitations Of Peace
A. ... keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ... (4:3).
3 Endeavouring <4704> (5723) to keep <5083> (5721) the unity <1775> of the Spirit <4151> in <1722> the bond <4886> of peace <1515>.
3 spoudazontev <4704> (5723) {V-PAP-NPM} threin <5083> (5721) {V-PAN} thn <3588> {T-ASF} enothta <1775> {N-ASF} tou <3588> {T-GSN} pneumatov <4151> {N-GSN} en <1722> {PREP} tw <3588> {T-DSM} sundesmw <4886> {N-DSM} thv <3588> {T-GSF} eirhnhv <1515> {N-GSF}
1. unity, 1775. enothv HENOTES hen-ot-ace’; from 1520; oneness, i.e. (figuratively) unanimity:— unity.
1775 enothv henotes hen-ot-ace’ from 1520; ; n f AV-unity 2; 2 1) unity 2) unanimity, agreement
a. To agree or be unified with the Spirit, the service of our lives and our worship, must agree with Christ’s word in those matters (cp. Mat 28:18).
b. One of the themes of the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesian saints, given the recurrence of certain words and phrases, was unity of the church. This was shown with such phrases and words as “gather together” (1:10); “quickened us together” (2:5); “raised us up together, and made us sit together” (2:6); “builded together” (2:22); “of twain one new man” (2:15); “one body” (2:16); “one Spirit” (2:18); “one hope” (4:4); “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (4:5-6).
c. Jesus prayed for unity (Joh 17:20-21).
d. Paul commanded unity in condemning division (1Co 10-13).
2. Unity is bonded together with peace but peace must not be at the expense of a worthy walk (Eph 4:1; 1Pe 3:10-11), which may not always allow for peace (v 3; Rom 12:18; 14:19).
a. It must sadden our Lord greatly when a congregation of his church asserts that unity demands weakness, compromise, flattery and tolerance of error.
b. Peace in doctrine is only possible when those seeking peace, follow God’s word faithfully (1Pe 4:11; 1Co 4:6).
c. Peace in matters of expedience is only possible when those seeking the peace do in the church, only what God’s word alone, authorizes (1Co 10:23).
d. Peace may not always be possible in matters of liberty (1Co 8:9; Rom 14:1-3)
Limitations Of Participation
B. There is one ... (4:4-6).
4 There is one <1520> body <4983>, and <2532> one <1520> Spirit <4151>, even as <2531> <2532> ye are called <2564> (5681) in <1722> one <3391> hope <1680> of your <5216> calling <2821>;
5 One <1520> Lord <2962>, one <1520> faith <4102>, one <3391> baptism <908>,
6 One <1520> God <2316> and <2532> Father <3962> of all <3956>, who <3588> is above <1909> all <3956>, and <2532> through <1223> all <3956>, and <2532> in <1722> you <5213> all <3956>.
4 en <1520> {A-NSN} swma <4983> {N-NSN} kai <2532> {CONJ} en <1520> {A-NSN} pneuma <4151> {N-NSN} kaywv <2531> {ADV} kai <2532> {CONJ} eklhyhte <2564> (5681) {V-API-<2>P} en <1722> {PREP} mia <1520> {A-DSF} elpidi <1680> {N-DSF} thv <3588> {T-GSF} klhsewv <2821> {N-GSF} umwn <5216> {P-<2>GP}
5 eiv <1520> {A-NSM} kuriov <2962> {N-NSM} mia <1520> {A-NSF} pistiv <4102> {N-NSF} en <1520> {A-NSN} baptisma <908> {N-NSN}
6 eiv <1520> {A-NSM} yeov <2316> {N-NSM} kai <2532> {CONJ} pathr <3962> {N-NSM} pantwn <3956> {A-GPM} o <3588> {T-NSM} epi <1909> {PREP} pantwn <3956> {A-GPM} kai <2532> {CONJ} dia <1223> {PREP} pantwn <3956> {A-GPM} kai <2532> {CONJ} en <1722> {PREP} pasin <3956> {A-DPM} umin <5213> {P-<2>DP}
1. Unity has limitations of participation (vs 4-6).
a. Paul gave seven propositions for unity in the church.
(1) One body - unity in organization
(2) One Spirit -- unity in life
(3) One hope - unity in desire and expectation
(4) One Lord - unity in authority
(5) One faith - unity in message
(a) It takes the word to be able to grow (1Pe 2:2).
(b) Follow God’s word involves changing from where our lives are not in harmony with God’s will to where we are complete within his will.
(6) One baptism - unity in practice
(7) One God and Father - unity in worship
C. The church today is not growing well, at least not in ways that bring glory to God, souls to salvation and edification to the saints. Many congregations are growing in numbers but not in saved souls. The reason for the poor growth is due to disunity in doctrine, in purpose and in fellowship. The result has been fragmentation or division. Unity in doctrine, purpose and fellowship. Imagine the force for good which would exist, if those who seek to call themselves Christians, united in doctrine, purpose and fellowship. Unity in Christ involves a Christ like manner of life (Eph. 4:1), a Christ-like mind of love (Eph. 4:2), and changeless limitations (Eph. 4:3-6). When we practice these, we will walk in unity.
CONCLUSION
An invalid standard for church growth is numbers in attendance. As Christians become dissatisfied with the emphasis on truth they gravitate to weaker congregations whose numbers swell. As congregations put their efforts into producing swelling numbers they tend to de-emphasize the truth or authority of God’s word. A real standard for growth in a congregation is Christ likeness (Php 2:5); intolerance of sin and error and developement of a real zeal for the work of the church (1Co 15:28).
People who have a purpose in life experience life wiht more
meaning. God has created us wiht a purpose and past that purpose on to
us. This purose brings to us the greatest of meaning in life.
God wants us all to experience the greatest life has to offer,
both now and in eternity. We will only through obedience to him.
Sources:
Garry Knighton, FORMULA FOR A STRONG CHURCH, BUILDING A STRONG CHURCH SERIES - Lesson 1
Bobby Liddell, PAUL'S PLEA AND PLAN FOR UNITY; James Meadows, THE PURPOSE AND DURATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, STUDIES IN EPHESIANS, THE SIXTEENTH (1997) ANNUAL DENTON LECTURES, Dub McClish - Editor, Valid Publications, Inc., Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, Texas 76201
R. Martin, Sermon Outlines, Choate, pages 71, 155
L. Brownlow Greatest Questions in the New Testament, Brownlow
Pub., page 150
J.C. Choate, Sermon Outline Collection, Vol. 1
in charity through Christ, Raymond Wiseman